Campus Compact hosted a Life After AmeriCorps (LAFTA) Panel, an event designed to connect current AmeriCorps VISTA members with alumni who have successfully transitioned into their careers or pursued higher education. A group of accomplished former VISTAs came together to share their experiences, offering insights into how service can be leveraged for career growth and professional development.
For many VISTA members, it can be difficult to see what comes next after their service year ends. Transitioning from a year of service to a long-term career path or a degree program can be challenging. Campus Compact VISTA Team develops resources and opportunities for LAFTA highlighting the numerous opportunities and pathways available to VISTA Members, demonstrating that the skills gained through AmeriCorps are valuable assets in any professional field. LAFTA discussions with VISTAs serve as a bridge for members to navigate their journeys. By hearing firsthand from alumni who have taken diverse career paths, current members gain valuable advice, inspiration, and connections to help shape their post-service plans.
This year’s panel featured the largest group of Campus Compact VISTA alumni to date, with 17 participants which highlights how impactful VISTA service can be. Each panelist has gone on to make an impact in their respective fields, and many see their VISTA experience as a foundational step in their personal and professional careers. Below is a glimpse into where a few of them are now:
Tim Krumreig | 2014-2015 VISTA Member and Leader at Massachusetts Campus Compact (Boston, MA)
Over the past decade, Tim has worked with nonprofits, colleges, and students to help higher ed institutions support local community change. After three terms with Mass Campus Compact, he served as a Program Manager with Campus Compact, then as Assistant Director of Community Service Programs at Northeastern University. He now serves as a Portfolio Manager for AmeriCorps, supporting grantees in PA and NJ. Tim holds a Master’s in Higher Education from Northeastern and a BA in Geology from Oberlin, where he discovered his passion for community engagement
Isabella Green | 2017-2018 VISTA member at North Central College in Naperville, IL
Isabella served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in 2017-2018 at North Central College in Naperville, IL where she set up a service-learning program. Isabelle then went to grad school as part of a specialized program for Americorps and Peace Corps alumni at Illinois State University and has since been working in public health.
Larniecia Smith | 2021-2024 VISTA member at College of DuPage and Roosevelt University in IL
Larniecia Smith, a Chicago native, began serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in January 2021. She joined Campus Compact in November 2022 at the College of DuPage and transferred to Roosevelt University in August 2023 to build capacity for their Food & Hygiene Pantry. Larniecia enrolled in Antioch University Online to pursue an MBA with a concentration in Nonprofit Leadership. In July 2024, she ended her service and began working at Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI, as a Residence Hall Director. She will graduate with her MBA in July 2025 and is proud to be called a servant leader.
Nathan Wiesehan | 2019-2020 VISTA Member at Loyola University Chicago (Chicago, IL); 2020-2021 VISTA Leader with Campus Compact
Nathan served with the Community Schools Initiative at Loyola, then supported member development as a VISTA Leader. After AmeriCorps, he joined Trilogy, a behavioral health provider in Chicago, where he’s now the Human Resources Services Manager. He has a BA in Organizational Communication and French from Bradley University.
Drew Andrade | 2019-2021 VISTA member at Northeastern Illinois University and National Louis University in Chicago, IL
Drew Andrade was born and raised in Southwest Michigan in a Mexican American household. She attended Michigan State University, majoring in Global & International Studies. After graduating a year early, she began her AmeriCorps journey in August 2019 at Northeastern Illinois University as a Student Food Pantry and Professional Development Coordinator. She continued her service the following year at National Louis University as a Student Veterans Coordinator. In August 2021, she finished her AmeriCorps employment and attended graduate school at the University of Miami, using her education award to help pay for it. After graduating, she returned to Michigan and, in November 2024, began working at the University of Notre Dame as a Student Success Program Coordinator.
Victoria Cirillo | 2020–2021 VISTA Member at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (Dartmouth, MA)
Victoria served in the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement during her VISTA year. Since then, she earned her Master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from Canisius University and recently became the Assistant Director for Civic Engagement at Rochester Institute of Technology. She credits much of her success in higher education and community engagement to the skills she developed through VISTA.
The LAFTA Panel is more than just a networking opportunity, it’s a chance for VISTA members to see the long-term impacts of their service experience. Alumni shared stories about how their VISTA roles helped them develop skills in project management, community engagement, and leadership. Many used their Segal Education Award, a post-service benefit that provides members a grant to either pay student loans or pay for future education, to pursue graduate degrees, while others leveraged their service year experience to secure roles in nonprofits, higher education administration, public service, and the private sector.
Through breakout sessions, alumni provided advice on navigating the job market, applying for graduate school, and maintaining a service-oriented career path. The event reinforced the idea that AmeriCorps VISTA service is a launching pad to meaningful careers.
Our current Campus Compact AmeriCorps VISTA Members are encouraged to connect with our alumni, seeking mentorship and exploring unique career and educational opportunities based on the information shared during the panel. Events like this are important as our cohort prepares to end their service year and move on to the next phase of their professional journeys.